NEPTUNE, N.J., Oct. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Meridian Health and Geisinger Health Plan are proud to announce that they have collaborated to make Geisinger Gold, the sixth best Medicare Advantage plan in the nation,* available to Medicare beneficiaries in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

"At Meridian Health, we are always working hard to better integrate patient care. This is an exciting opportunity to partner with like-minded people, dedicated to providing quality, patient-centered care," says John K. Lloyd, FACHE, president of Meridian Health. "We are committed to taking care of New Jersey and look forward to having Geisinger Gold available to Medicare beneficiaries in Monmouth and Ocean counties."

"We are excited to offer Geisinger Gold to Medicare beneficiaries in New Jersey," says GHP President and CEO Duane E. Davis, M.D. "Geisinger Health Plan has developed new, innovative models of care that are raising the bar for quality, member experience, and cost effectiveness. Working with Meridian Health allows us to bring our expertise to help Medicare beneficiaries receive better care."

As a result of this relationship, seniors in Monmouth and Ocean counties will have—for the first time—access to a Medicare plan that features better management of chronic conditions and better health care outcomes than what is available with traditional Medicare and Medigap coverages. Geisinger Gold has established a local office in Whiting, NJ.

Geisinger Gold is offering Medicare beneficiaries six plans with a range of benefits and premiums from which to choose. To learn more, contact a representative at 1-800-846-1583 or visit www.MeridianGeisingerGold.com.

About Meridian Health

Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization in New Jersey, comprising Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Ocean Medical Center, Riverview Medical Center, Southern Ocean County Hospital, K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital, and Meridian Partner Companies that include home health services, skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, ambulatory care, ambulance services, and outpatient centers. Meridian Health has consistently been rated among the top performing health systems in New Jersey for clinical quality, is one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For, and is the recipient of numerous state and national recognitions for patient care and nursing excellence, including the distinction of being the first health system in the country to receive Magnet designation for nursing excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, a distinction earned by less than 3% of hospitals nationwide. For more information, please visit www.meridianhealth.com.

About Geisinger Health Plan

Geisinger Health Plan, begun in 1985, is headquartered in Danville, Pa. and has a New Jersey office located in Whiting. The plan serves more than 290,000 members in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Coverage is available for businesses of all sizes, individuals and families, and Medicare beneficiaries. As part of Geisinger Health System, GHP has been recognized nationally as a model for health-care reform with documented success in innovative programs such as the patient-centered medical home. Geisinger Gold is the top-ranked Medicare plan in Pennsylvania and ranked number six nationally for quality and service.* For more information, please visit www.thehealthplan.com.